Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana has called attention to the expiration of the National Minimum Wage Act 2019, which set the national minimum wage at N30,000, has expired.
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According to Section 3(4) of the Act, the national minimum wage expires after five years and should be reviewed in line with the Act’s provisions. With the commencement date of the Act being April 18, 2019, the N30,000 minimum wage has already lapsed.
Falana noted that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, had announced during the last May Day rally in Abuja that the new national minimum wage would take effect on May 1, 2024.
Following the removal of fuel subsidy last year, the Federal Government had also announced an additional N35,000 wage award (wage subsidy) for six months, starting from September 1, 2023, bringing the total monthly wage payable to a worker to N65,000 during that period. State governments had also awarded various sums as wage subsidies to their workers, with Lagos and Edo State Governments announcing a minimum wage of N70,000.
However, the Federal Government has now offered a minimum wage of N48,000, leading to the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress embarking on an indefinite strike due to the failure of the Federal Government and other employers to pay a realistic new minimum wage to Nigerian workers.
Falana urged the National Assembly to swiftly pass a new National Minimum Wage Act, similar to the speed with which the new National Anthem Act was enacted within 48 hours last week. He emphasized the importance of addressing the issue promptly to resolve the ongoing strike and ensure fair compensation for workers across the country.
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